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The English language Wikipedia page from 18 January 2012, illustrating its international blackout in opposition to SOPA and PIPA.

Some people and businesses support the new law. Others are alarmed by the law. The supporters worry that current copyright laws are not effective in shutting down piracy websites. The opponents worry that it is a kind of censorship.[4] It is hard to tell which side is correct because the language in the law is still being written.

The English Wikipedia masked most of its pages with a banner on January 18, 2012.[5] They did so after about 763 out of 100,000 editors voted to take this step. They used JavaScript to do this, which means that people could avoid the banner by just disabling JavaScript in their browser.[6] The Wikipedia blackout is intended to spotlight the value of open access to information on the Internet.[7]

Other websites joined protests against SOPA.[8] For example, Google put up a black censor board in front of its logo.[9]

Many critics questioned the value and likely effects of the protests.[10] Some people questioned the timing of the protests.